Quentin Richardson had successful back surgery on March 29th and is expected to make a full recovery. Thw 6′6″ swingman had appeard in 49 games for the Knicks this season and was averaging 13 points and 7.1 rebounds per game.

The surgery was performed by Dr. Barth Green, a neurosurgeon in Miami, Florida.

“Quentin had a successful microdiskectomy and is expected to resume a normal NBA career, “Dr. Green said in a press release by the Knicks.

The Knicks have been hit with numerous injuries of late and this is just another in the list. Miraculously, they are still in the hunt for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with three weeks left in the regular season.

Five Mavs in Double Digits Down Knicks, 92-77

The Knicks hosted the Dallas Mavericks for the one and only time on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden and gave them a good fight for the first half. But the defending Western Conference champions lead the league in wins this season and pulled away in the third quarter to come out on top, 92-77.

Dallas was led by Dirk Nowitzki and Josh Howard, both game-high scorers with 24 points each. The Knicks played the Mavericks close and only trailed by three at the half, 46-43. Dallas went on a 9-0 run in the third quarter and widened their lead to 10 with 8:45 left in the third quarter.

“We came back out [in the second half], made some adjustments at the halftime, challenged some guys a little bit more and we really had a strong quarter defensively in the third,,” said Dallas head coach Avery Johnson. “We got control of the game. We were fortunate to win this game.”

“We rebounded the ball better and moved the ball, making plays,” Nowitzki said. “No one really forced any shots.”

Nate Robinson (19 points, 3 steals, 4 of 5 from 3 point range) gave the Knicks a spark off the bench and had a few moments where he ignited the crowd. Following a steal, he led a fast break that led to a slam by Renaldo Balkman, who had 7 points and 10 rebounds.

“They have the most energetic second unit in the NBA,” said Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.

Eddy Curry was finding success inside the paint in the early going and had 6 points in the first quarter. He finished with a double double (22 points, 12 boards), but it wasn’t enough.

“We definitely lost to a better team, but I thought if we could have played a little bit better, and you have to give them credit because they have something to do with us not playing well, “ Knicks head coach Isiah Thomas said.

The Knicks, who already have Jamaal Crawford and David Lee out with injuries, had Quentin Richardson on the bench the entire game with a sore lower back and also had Stephon Marbury and Channing Frye hurting after the loss. Marbury was hit in the shoulder late in the game and Frye was poked in the eye in the third quarter.

“We will recover,” said Thomas. “I expect us to play well the next game. We will patch up the troops, go out and win a basketball game.”

Dallas also had major contributions from Erick Dampier, who had 10 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 block; Jason Terry (15 points, 6 assists); and Jerry Stackhouse ((10 points, 4 assists).

Dallas improved their record to 55-11 and the Knicks fell to 30-37. A playoff spot is still well within reach, and the Knicks hope to bounce back on Thursday when they host the Portland Trailblazers.

‘One shot.’ It sounds like a line at the end of “The Deer Hunter” between Robert DeNiro and Christopher Walken in a seedy Saigon backroom. But it had an extra special meaning against Seattle on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden. Stephon Marbury had a whale of a game, but missed his second free throw with less than a second left in regulation, giving the SuperSonics a one-point road win. They Knicks will have to shake it off and face a tough Wizards club (34-26) in Washington on Saturday.

Miraculously, the Knicks are still right in the thick of the playoff hunt. Basketball purists may scoff that a 28-34 team has any chance of reaching the post-season. But in the weak Eastern Conference, the Knicks are right there with the eighth-seeded Orlando Magic, who stand at 29-34. And the New Jersey Nets are also in the mix with a 28-33 mark.

Injuries have hampered the Knickerbockers, especially losing guard Jamaal Crawford. But all teams this time of year have had the injury bug. They have to work around that, and Marbury has picked up his offensive game a notch since Crawford went out.

At least Knick fans can hold their heads up and know that the team is playing hard. The youth on the team is getting some good experience fighting for a post-season berth, even if does not come to pass.